Esophagus (Esophageal) Cancer Questions

How is Obamacare affecting Cancer patients?

I am 70 years old and on Medicare. I am wondering how the new regulations which kick in January 1 will affect me. Is it worth my time to even go in for tests? Will I only be offered "comfort care which will only bring about an earlier death?

20 Answers from the Community

I have no idea if or how Obamacare affects cancer patients or Medicare and it seems nobody else does either. The entire thing is so convoluted and politically bound, that getting the straight scoop about anything seems to be impossible until after the fact. I have just recently become Medicare eligible and have learned that Medicare sucks, but I don't know that that has anything to do with Obama care. In may case the best value was a group Medicare Advantage plan that costs a little less than the group plan I had pre 65 with a little better coverage than I had pre 65.

Obamacare is going to require insurers to provide coverage regardless of your medical history. A major goal is eliminating the pre-existing condition loophole. Goals include trying to spread the cost of medical care amongst the population - both healthy and ill.

I can already tell your political affiliation simply by your phrasing. You're speculating and making up the future too.. no one is going to force you to die because your candidate didn't win. Your assumptions are almost a slap in the face to those who visit this site that have only comfort care options left.

Sorry, I'm not usually political.. but stop trying to scare cancer patients here with this made up mess. A lot of us are younger here, and NOT medicare eligible and can finally have the chance to live to 70 like you have.

I work for a TPA that administers medical, dental & vision coverage. "Obamacare" should not have a huge impact on Medicare. As others have stated, it will help offer coverage for those w/ pre-existing conditions. It will also help assure that folks w/out insurance, whether self-employed, unemployed or working for a small company where health insurance does no have to be offered can get coverage. The goal is not to put old and sick people "to sleep".

A massive bill that was passed without knowing its full content should concern us. This very fact would have been unthinkable only a single generation ago. If not one knows what is in it, no one can predict its effects. I have not seen that it funds even a single new hospital, clinic, doctor, nurse or technician. Yet, it purports to greatly expand access to health care. More demand for the same services has equalled rationing in all of human history. As well, this rationing nearly always comes at the expense of the elderly and chronically ill, who consume more health care out of simple need. I fear that, as with SS, Medicare and all other government panaceas, it will ultimately hurt rather than help. The skeptic in me notes that it will take effect only after the election.

I believe that this is a very good question as most of us do not know the full scope of what Obamacare holds. I pray that no one will be only offered comfort care based upon their age & diagnosis. Hopefully, more information in "laymen's terms" will be offered to the public. I'm sure that many, including me, will benefit from the truth rather than all the rumors that circulate. Best wishes & God's blessings to you along your journey.

The more popular aspects of Obamacare have already been implemented. Major portions of Obamacare do not go into effect until 2014 when everyone is forced to purchase healthcare insurance or get taxed and a lot of other regulations go into effect. There is a lot of conflicting information regarding the effect of Obamacare in 2014 and later. After reading it myself it appears to me to be an underhanded means of the government to make insurance companies go out of business and for government to takeover healthcare. I do not believe that will be beneficial and could lead to delayed treatments in the future. I would get as much treatment/tests as you can now before 2014.

This is one of those rumors that I just can't believe. The AARP wouldn't be so supportive of Obamacare if there was any chance of seeing people denied health care due to age.

What may be going on is a misinterpretation of standards of care. Right now, I'm not being treated. My cancer isn't gone--it's incurable--but I have no symptoms and my numbers are good. The best care is "watchful waiting." Then there's my mother. She's 88 and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last winter. She doesn't want chemo and was happy when her doctor said she shouldn't get it. The reason is that chemo won't buy her much time--and that time would be at age 90. The cost would be to lose her few remaining years of decent health. She's an extremely strong woman and doesn't fear death. So, for her, the best care is to do nothing.

I will not presume your political affiliation, instead I will give you the respect you deserve. If this is your concern then you need voice them to your physician. Let him know that at this time you do not wish to consider palliative treatment and you wish to continue active treatment as long as it proves beneficial. Best of luck to you. I can understand your concern as the times are not as they used to be. I work in end of life care and belong to an organization called Compassion and Choices so this is a big topic there as well. Those younger here don't have the benefit of remembering a time in America when the elderly were considered our most prided asset. Respect is always free and I do remember that time. I also understand that questions here are asked to glean information. Not everyone has an agenda and synicism is not an option to entertain. Speak your concerns with your doctor and make sure you are both on the same page, Carm.

As someone who could not get insurance on my own or treatment until I had waited a year when on company insurance due to a pre-existing condition (a hernia-non cancerous and not chronic), thanks to Obamacare, I now have insurance companies calling me looking for my business when before, I couldn't get the time of day and my health issues (now cancer ergo now chronic) are not an issue. I see Obamacare as a good thing.

I went on Medicare with Medicare B and supplemental Plan F in late 2009. I have had two rounds of chemo since then. The only thing I paid for was $10 for a Tylenol and $10 for a Benadryl when getting chemo because I do not have Medicare D. Medicare A does not pay for routine drugs.
I know of two changes in Medicare with Obamacare. The doughnut hole with Medicare is or will close, not sure of the date. The other change is that medicare will now cover some screening tests such as colonoscopies. Be careful here because there are time limits. If you get a second test one week before the time permitted, Medicare will not pay.
As a former physical therapist, I do think the government should rein in on profitmaking health care providers. I worked in home health, and the fraud and inappropriate care is unbelievable. This is also true of other profitmaking health care providers such as hospitals, nursing homes, labs, etc.

The regulations should not affect your insurance at all. Of course you will get COMPLETE health care. The fear you are voicing is the ignorance that certain politicians have been spewing in order to scare people into voting against Obama and their named "Obamacare". The program is about getting people who have no insurance and therefore tax our hospitals the insurance they need. Everyone should be able to get decent medical care. If this program is implemented correctly, that is what will happen.

I've had cancer for 10 years. Over this time, I've spent 6 years on chemo, had multiple radical surgieries, plus all the other things that go along with it. Obamacare's end of the lifetime limit previously impossed by insurance companies is a huge burden off of me. I was right against that ceiling. I cried the day I received a letter from my insurance informing me they could no longer end my coverage. The Obamacare plan provided payment for doctors who meet with terminal patients as they plan their continued care. Having twice been told that I didn't have long to live, I think this is practical. It's scary for nearly everyone, I think, to mention that they themselves will die. Maybe that is why this made so many people uncomfortable.

I think from the way you phrased your question and also from the selection you made for "best answer" that your question is not about your cancer care at all. It appears rather that you are unhappy with the election results and for some reason you are venting your disappointment here. What a shame.

Thank you for your answers and the many links. I have discovered that my primary care physician is using the new laws to bully me. I do not need to go in for that "wellness" visit. I do not need to file the standard "End of Life Docuement" The documents that are filed with my pastor are suffcient" Again thank you all for your Answers.